Mah hikes income limit for OBC student scholarship

Mumbai, Nov 14 (UNI) The Maharashtra government today approved a proposal to increase the income limit of parents of OBC students, seeking scholarships under the Central government-sponsored schemes and students of nomadic tribes studying in Sainik schools from Rs 65,290 to Rs one lakh.

The decision was taken at a weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh here.

At present, 9,61,419 students are beneficiaries of the Central government-sponsored scholarship after standard X. With an increase in the income limit, additional 42,561 students will benefit.

As many as 2,136 students belonging to nomadic tribes, studying in Sainik schools, have taken scholarship. Due to the hike in income limit, 306 students will benefit. The income limit for SC students and those from economically-backward classes have already been increased to Rs one lakh.

With today's decision, the state government has brought uniformity in the income limit to avail the scholarship schemes initiated by the Central government.

The scheme will be implemented for students from the present academic year. The government will bear a burden of Rs 10.33 crore, an official release said here today.

In another decision, the cabinet gave its nod to return 4 per cent tax on a limit of Rs 20 lakh of the annual turnover already paid to the government treasury by oil mills coming under the jurisdiction of Central or state government's khadi and gramudyog department. There are 500 oil mills in the state which provide employment to 5,000 people. The decision is expected to give a boost to this dying industry, the statement added.

UNI